9th Bn Royal Fusiliers - Salerno Landings...

Hi there,

Just starting work into Capt John Victor Gerber who died at Salerno with 9RF on 10th Sept 1943.

Its the first time I've looked into someone in WW2 and the information doesn't seem as abundant as for those involved in WW1...

Any advice for a newbie? Anyone have easy access into the regimental war diaries for that week?

Thanks in advance

JT

 

Hello and welcome
I am sure someone will be along soon to help.

For info

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/208269/GERBER,%20JOHN%20VICTOR

Lesley

 

Hi Jimmy,

His death should be documented in the battalions war diary, officers tend to get well mentioned in them. The diary you would need to look at is at the National Archives if you can get there.

WO 169/10214 9 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) 1943 Jan.- Dec.

I have the regiments history but won't be able to get at it until next week at the earliest to check it by the looks of things. If I don't get back to you drop me a quick private message to remind me and I'll have a butchers for you unless someone else beats me to it.

Cheers and good luck
Andy

 

thanks guys - really appreciated!

 

I don't know if Jimmy is still looking for information about Captain J.V. Gerber, but I found these details in the 9 RF war diary (WO169/10214):

Capt. R.V. Gerber (86417) - joined Bn on 7 July 1942 and on 9th September was 2nd in command of HQ Company.

He was killed on 10 Sep 43 along with 167 Bde's Assistant Signals Officer when trying to bring ammunition and a new 22 set to the battalion after it had been cut off in Battipaglia.

Regards

Tom

 

Looking at this a bit deeper this evening, I found that there was a CWGC Concentration report which noted where Capt. Gerber's original field grave was:



It looks like Dvr K.R. Rayner (10695541) from 56 Div Signals was also killed alongside Capt. Gerber as they are both recorded as being originally buried at the same spot which is just south of Battipaglia.



Regards

Tom

 

Hi Tom,

May I ask a quick question that is slightly related to this old thread? How did you get hold of a copy of the right map to make sense of the coordinates shown in the grave concentration report? I am looking at the concentration report for the nine men of the 9th RF who died on 7 November 1943 (3 men of the 8th Bn were also killed that day) but their initial burials are shown as 19GR/DLJ/2021. Do you know whether this a reference to a location or to some file or document that would give the location? Am I correct in thinking that the map reference shown (802.932) is for the new burial site at Minturno Military Cemetery? Alas, the War Diary has not yet been digitised, so, I can't get a clue from that as to where these men might have met their end.

Many Thanks,

Col

 

Of course, happy to help if I can.

There is a link somewhere on the site to a collection of WW2 maps of Italy. I'll see if I can find it later, but in the meantime I think it was on a thread about "Salerno maps" - something like that at least.

Your question re the entry "19GR/DLJ/2021" is a common one. I think this is a reference to a report from a small unit called 19 Grave Registration Unit. "DLJ" would then likely be the initials of the officer in charge of the team or the particular recovery of the individuals from their field graves and their reburial in a large concentrated cemetery in December 1944.

That would my understanding.

I've transcribed the 9th RF war diary for November 1943 and for 7th November 1943 it records:

7 November 1943

0500 A Pl. of “B” Coy suffered casualties in enemy “S” mine field.

0730 A party of stretcher bearers also had wounded when going to casualties’ aid. Casualties numbered 1 officer and 14 O.R’s, which included 3 R.E. personnel.

I hope all that helps,

Kind regards

Tom

 

Hi Tom,

Thank you so much for taking the time to give such a helpful response - much appreciated! Thanks also for letting me know what was in the War Diary for that day!!

As regards, WW2-era maps of Italy, after posting my query, I did some searching based on the reference to "Sheet 171, Italy 1,100,000" and came across a site that shows the map of Italy with the ability to zoom-in on particular sheets. It can be found here - Index to WWII Italy 1:100,000 Scale Maps | McMaster University Library

Once again, many thanks for your swift and positive reply!!

Best Wishes,

Col